Jimmy Smith joins UFC broadcast team

January 12, 2018

Jimmy Smith has joined the UFC broadcast team according to a company release. Smith will be a part of all facets of UFC programming including UFC broadcasts for Fox Sports, PPV events and pre-fight programming.

“I am honored to join the world’s premier combat sports brand in 2018. It is a privilege to call fights for a living and I can’t wait to join the tremendous UFC broadcast team to call the best fights in the world. To the UFC fans, I am thrilled to join you for this wild ride. See you all very soon!”

Smith left Bellator late last year where he served as the company’s color commentator.

Payout Perspective:

Smith’s hiring comes days after Bellator announced the signing of “Big” John McCarthy as a color commentator. The news is somewhat surprising considering that the UFC has a stable of commentators/analysts including fighters Dominick Cruz, Paul Felder, Daniel Cormier and former fighter Dan Hardy. Notably, Cruz and Felder have been great in their analysis. Perhaps Smith’s signing will alleviate the travel of some of the UFC’s commentating team as well as scale back Joe Rogan’s PPV duties.